Kyle Farnsworth agrees to minor-league deal with Mets

Published 1:00 pm, Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Kyle Farnsworth has agreed to a minor-league deal with the New York Mets.

Kyle Farnsworth has agreed to a minor-league deal with the New York Mets.

Photo: David Kohl — The Associated Press

Kyle Farnsworth agrees to minor-league deal with Mets

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NEW YORK >> Reliever Kyle Farnsworth has agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Mets and will report to spring training as a non-roster player.

The 37-year-old right-hander was 3-1 with two saves and a 4.70 ERA in 48 games last year with Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, which signed him in August after he was released by the Rays. His fastball averaged 95-98 mph early in the season, according to fansgraphs.com, then dropped to 92-96 mph later in the year.

Farnsworth would get a $1 million, one-year contract if added to the 40-man roster and could earn $1.5 million in performance bonuses. He could make $500,000 based on games: $75,000 each for 40, 45, 50 and 55, and $100,000 apiece for 60 and 65. He also could earn $1 million based on games finished: $100,000 each for 30 and 35, $250,000 apiece for 40 and 45, and $300,000 for 50.

Farnsworth has a 43-63 record with 54 saves and a 4.26 ERA and 945 strikeouts in 960 innings. He’s pitched for the Chicago Cubs (1999-04), Detroit (2005, 2008), Atlanta (2005, 2010), the New York Yankees (2006-08), Kansas City (2009-10), Tampa Bay (2011-13) and Pittsburgh (2013), and had a career-high 25 saves for the Rays in 2011.